Bristol Palin Speaking At Washington University For 'Sex Week'

Bristol Palin, the oldest daughter of former Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, has been selected as the keynote speaker to talk about sexual responsibility at Washington University's "sex week" next month.

The St. Louis, Mo., university plans the week each year "to start an open sexual dialogue, encourage students to experiment with sexual viewpoints that differ from their own and to provide wide-reaching sexual education," according to StudLife, the student paper. Other guests have included famed TV doctor and "Loveline" host Dr. Drew.

Bristol Palin, now 20, was notably put in the spotlight during the 2008 presidential campaign for becoming pregnant at the age of 18. Since giving birth to Tripp, she has partnered with anti-teen pregnancy campaign the Candies Foundation, and even filmed a few ads for the group.

While the politically-charged nature of the selection has caused some minor turbulence on campus, one of the organizers behind the event explained to StudLife that her presence would help round out an annual happening that is often criticized for being one-sided.

"We thought a big name like Bristol's would help to start a dialogue," Student Health Advisory Committee President Scott Elman told StudLife. "We also wanted to target abstinence because SHAC and Sex Week have been criticized for being too liberal and too one-dimensional, and that the abstinence conversation hasn't been brought up."

The university reportedly doled out $20,000 to host the 4-person panel, though the school's treasury hasn't released the exact price of Palin's speaking contract.

Comments

[iconoclast6]

12:03 AM on 01/30/2011

At least this time, critical thinking has triumphed.

[erehwon2]

10:51 PM on 01/29/2011

As the parent of a Wash U student, I'm more amused than appalled by the whole situation. I don't know what the thinking was behind offering a speaking contract to such a twit, but at least the whole controversy has sparked some discussion over what probably would have been a mostly ignored event on campus.

Now that they've canceled Bristol's engagement, maybe they could apply some of that $20K toward reducing their outrageously expensive tuition.

Well, I can hope...

[KillgoreTrout43]

09:28 PM on 01/28/2011

StudLife? Really?

[verylargehat]

09:48 PM on 01/28/2011

It's all a big joke.

The idea that Brisol Palin is an authority on sexual responsibility who is worth paying a $20,000 speaking fee as part of a distinguished panel is beyond laughable. I would LOVE to know how much Dr. Drew's fee is.

And the idea that StudLife need a "big name" like Bristol Palin to talk about abstinence - like abstinence isn't the first and last thought of every right-wing zealot - is weak, at best.

LMAO!!!

[zoiebear]

08:55 PM on 01/28/2011

Im sure they were just dying to have this hypocrite preach to them.........

[barbara baylom]

06:33 PM on 01/28/2011

i don't see why bristol wanted to talk about sex she thought by her getting pregnant would keep levi wrong answer

[mcw2112]

05:11 PM on 01/28/2011

You have to hand it to the "we're so tolerant" intolerant Hollywood crowd. When they hate, they do it unabashedly, un-apologetically and with full force. I never knew who Kate Walsh was until she started this campaign against Ms. Palin, and now that I do know, I'm as unimpressed as before. If you don't agree with the left 100%, then you are ostracized to the ends of the Earth by these people, all while they call others racist, homophobic, hateful, intolerant...etc. Is there anyone left in Tinseltown with a shred of decency or integrity, or are they all so full of hate and venom that even the so-called beautiful ones just look ugly. I say those of us that are just normal, everyday, political centrists boycott all of these people and their lame TV shows and highly derivative, hackneyed films. I shall now stand by to receive the onslaught of follow-up hatred that is sure to be dispensed by the Kathy Griffin's of this readership.

[Pierre Soltanirre]

11:07 AM on 01/28/2011

Hey Anti Syntax Sarah, Sarah, over here Sarah, this is the kind of humiliation you have heaped upon your children with your rude crude reputation.You knock education as elitist then you want to get paid to speak at institutions of higher learning. Hopefully Cali gets a clue.

Bye for now.

[JDS]

09:33 AM on 01/28/2011

Congraulations to the students at Washington U. for putting a stop to this travesty. Currently, the online student poll on the subject is 87% in favor of the cancellation of her appearance. One can only hope this might be reflective of the all-important independent voter block and its grading of the chances of the Mother Grizzlie of the Wasilla Hillbillies ever doing anything beyond things like sharing her "WTF" gems with the likes of Greta Van Susterern.

[gottanuf]

08:53 AM on 01/28/2011

Yet another Palin smackdown!

[gottanuf]

08:50 AM on 01/28/2011

Visual aids?

[Rhubarbarian]

07:51 AM on 01/28/2011

So they are going to pay a college-age student who is not in college to share her wisdom with the very bright students at this extremely academically competive school (I'm sure Sarah would call them elitest). She is among the absolutely worst spokesperson for abstinence because her life is not typical in the least for someone who finds themself unwed and pregnant (yea, Dancing with the Stars and a radio job offer are some of the awful things that will befall you). This changes my impression of Washington University 100%.

[Rhubarbarian]

08:36 AM on 01/28/2011

competitive

[Ktbu Lfu]

07:30 AM on 01/28/2011

THE STUDENTS HAVE SPOKEN!!!! She is NOT coming.

[mp146]

10:35 PM on 01/29/2011

Good..

[wustlguy]

03:03 AM on 01/28/2011

It took a lot of work, but behold:

http://www.studlife.com/news/2011/01/28/bristol-palin-will-not-speak-at-wu/

[Ktbu Lfu]

07:55 AM on 01/28/2011

Yeah for the students and alumni speaking out against her coming and using their common sense and realizing the Palin's are nothing but a bunch of quick money grabbers who are using their notoriety to make money. That is all it is, plain an simple.

[stape45]

01:42 AM on 01/28/2011

“Noted scholar and humanitarian, Whats-her-name, will be addressing …..”

[Ellobern]

10:17 PM on 01/27/2011

Even after the "Dancing with the Stars" debacle and the middle finger message, the university is going to continue to reward this young woman with a high paying speaking engagement?